AFP Photo / Ronaldo Schemidt
A hot air balloon with tourists onboard has crashed
in Cambodia leaving seven people injured, including two Russians. A
Ukrainian passenger was reported to be in a serious condition.
Squally wind is suspected to be the main reason for the crash.
The balloon was at a height of approximately 300 meters when the
problem occurred.
“Thanks to the pilot’s skills we’ve survived, but the hot air
balloon itself was completely damaged,” one of the tourists,
Maksim Vasin, told RIA Novosti news agency. “A tourist from
Ukraine sustained serious injuries while other people who were with
us also received minor injuries,” he added.
Vasin, who was with his son,
11, said that despite the obvious physical trauma suffered by all
the people on the balloon the Cambodians only provided first aid to
the Ukrainian tourist. Moreover, he said, the organizers still
demanded payment for the “flight”.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was checking
the information from Cambodia.
The incident happened in the tourist town of Siem Reap, in north
western Cambodia, not far from the Angkor Wat complex, the largest
Hindu temple complex and the largest religious monument in the
world.
Back in February a similar hot air balloon flight in the
Egyptian ancient town of Luxor ended in tragedy. Nineteen people died as the balloon exploded and crashed to the ground. Following
the incident hot air balloon flights have been halted in Egypt
until April, 1.
3 comments:
Despite the obvious physical trauma suffered by all the people on the balloon the Cambodians only provided first aid to the Ukrainian tourist. Moreover, he said, the organizers still demanded payment for the “flight”. ???
True Khmer
NICE BLOG!!! Thanks for your valuable information, It would be really helpful about tourism information Am working in Cheap goa tour packages
There were actually two balloons that crashed. They only reported about the balloon with the Ukrainian tourist on it. The wind is indeed to blame. When the balloons took off, the wind was ok. After twenty minutes, wind changed which was felt even by friends/family of the balloon passengers who remained on the ground. So how do I know this? I'm related to one of the passengers who got injured. This is truly an unfortunate event. The balloon company is being responsible by the way. I think they're handling this matter quite impressively. And no, they did not demand flight payment after the crash (at least not on the balloon where my aunt was.)
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